The influenza vaccines are free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for:
Refer to the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2026 for a list of medical conditions that meet eligibility criteria for the funded influenza vaccine.
People who are not eligible for a free influenza vaccine can also access the influenza vaccine through a private script from a GP or from an NSW pharmacist immuniser (for individuals aged 2 years and over).
A nasal spray influenza vaccine will be available in Australia in 2026 under the brand name FluMist®. FluMist® is a live attenuated influenza vaccine delivered via nasal spray as a needle-free alternative. FluMist® is registered for use for people aged 2 to 17 years in Australia. This vaccine has been used extensively overseas for over a decade and has demonstrated strong acceptability and comparable effectiveness to the injectable influenza vaccine.
In addition to the NIP and state-funded standard injectable influenza vaccines, in 2026, the NSW Government is funding FluMist®, a nasal spray influenza vaccine for children aged 2, 3 and 4 years as a needle-free alternative, with the aim to increase vaccination uptake in children.
FluMist® is registered for use for people aged 2 to 17 years and will also be available on the private market for this age cohort.
For more information, refer to NSW Nasal Spray Influenza Vaccination Program - Information for health professionals.
Eligible children can access FluMist® from a range of immunisation providers:
Due to supply constraints, state‑funded FluMist® has been pre‑allocated to GPs and AMSs, community health services, NSW public hospitals, and the NCIRS clinic. Community pharmacies will be reimbursed for administering privately funded FluMist® to children aged 2, 3 and 4 years (up to a specified number of FluMist® doses). Further information about this reimbursement arrangement will be communicated to community pharmacies.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) have recommended that the inclusion of the B Yamagata lineage virus in vaccines is no longer warranted. Accordingly, Australia has transitioned from quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) to trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV). As per the advice by the WHO, AIVC and Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the following viruses are used in the 2026 influenza vaccines in Australia:
Egg-based influenza vaccines:
Cell-based influenza vaccines:
NSW Health has developed a number of resources and an influenza information sheet that provides advice in relation to which NIP and state-funded influenza vaccines should be administered to various age groups. Immunisation providers must check that the influenza vaccine that they are administering is the correct influenza vaccine for the patient's age.
Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone from mid-April onwards to be protected for the peak influenza season, which is typically June to September. However, influenza can occur year-round.
Pregnant women are recommended to get an influenza vaccine at any stage of pregnancy.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation ATAGI) advises that revaccination in the same year is not routinely recommended; however, some people may benefit due to personal circumstances such as pregnancy or travel. Pregnant women who received an influenza vaccine in 2025 should receive a 2026 influenza vaccine if it becomes available before the end of the pregnancy. Women who receive the influenza vaccine before becoming pregnant should be revaccinated during pregnancy to protect the unborn infant.
If a person had a 2025 influenza vaccine in late 2025 or early 2026, they are still recommended to receive a 2026 formulation of the influenza vaccine.
All children aged 6 months to less than 5 years are eligible for free influenza vaccine as part of the National Immunisation Program. If two doses are indicated, both doses are free.
Influenza vaccine is also available for free for children aged 5 years and over with specified medical conditions and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
NSW pharmacist immunisers can administer influenza vaccine for children 2 years and above.
Two doses given at least 4 weeks apart are recommended for
In subsequent years, only one dose is required. Children who only received one dose in their first year of vaccination still only require one dose in subsequent years.
For further information, refer to the ATAGI statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2026 and Australian Immunisation Handbook.
No. The dose of injectable inactivated influenza vaccines for all ages is 0.5mL. The 0.25mL dose that was previously recommended for young children is no longer available/recommended. It is safe for children to receive the full dose (0.5ml) of an age-appropriate influenza vaccine.
The dose of the nasal spray influenza vaccine is 0.2mL. Providers are recommended to give as a divided dose of 0.1 mL nasal spray per nostril. The nasal spray influenza vaccine is not to be administered orally, intramuscularly, intravascularly, intradermally, subcutaneously or otherwise parenterally.
Yes. Protection from maternal influenza vaccination does not last beyond six months of age. This is why the influenza vaccine is recommended and now funded for all children from 6 months to less than 5 years of age.
Breastfeeding doesn't provide enough antibodies to protect an infant against influenza after the age of 6 months. Influenza vaccination is strongly recommended and free for all children aged 6 months and over to less than 5 years to protect them against severe influenza disease.
Yes. All influenza vaccines can be administered at the same time as other childhood recommended vaccines. Giving several vaccines at the same time is safe. Most side effects are mild and resolve within a few days.
Further details about influenza vaccine co-administration can be found in the Australian Immunisation Handbook influenza chapter.
The Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) communication package is an evidence-based suite of communication tools aimed at improving conversations between vaccination providers and parents of young children, pregnant women, and families about vaccination.
All inactivated influenza vaccines can safely be given to pregnant women during any stage of pregnancy. The vaccine is recommended for each new pregnancy. As a precaution, the nasal spray influenza vaccine should not be administered during pregnancy.
Pregnant women who received an influenza vaccine in 2025 should receive a 2026 influenza vaccine if it becomes available before the end of the pregnancy. Women who receive influenza vaccine before becoming pregnant should be revaccinated during pregnancy to protect the unborn infant.
The Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) communication package is an evidence-based suite of communication tools aimed at improving conversations between vaccination providers and patients, including pregnant women, about vaccination. Resources include an Information factsheet The influenza vaccine for pregnant women.
Yes, however, people aged 65 and over are recommended to receive the adjuvanted influenza vaccine, Fluad®, over other standard-dose trivalent vaccines. The adjuvanted influenza vaccine Fluad® has been specially formulated to create a greater immune response amongst older people, who are known to have a weaker response to immunisation. However, if Fluad® is not available, people aged 65 years and over can safely receive other standard-dose trivalent influenza vaccines.
No, if someone aged 65 years and older receives a standard trivalent vaccine, an extra dose (of an adjuvanted influenza vaccine) is not recommended in the same season.
People aged 50 years and over can receive either the standard-dose influenza vaccine or adjuvanted influenza vaccine Fluad®. However, Fluad® is only available for free on the National Immunisation Program for people aged 65 and over.
The product information for Fluad® recommends that the vaccine be gently shaken before use. After shaking, the normal appearance of Fluad® is a milky-white suspension.
Yes, people with egg allergy, including anaphylaxis, can be safely vaccinated with egg-based and cell-based influenza vaccines. People with a history of egg allergy (non-anaphylaxis) can receive an age-appropriate full dose of influenza vaccine in any immunisation setting. Persons with a history of anaphylaxis to egg should be vaccinated in medical facilities with staff experienced in recognising and treating anaphylaxis. For more information, visit Egg allergy influenza vaccination - Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA).
Yes. In 2026, all influenza vaccines available on the National Immunisation Program and NSW Health programs will be latex-free.
Influenza vaccines can be administered on the same day, or separately from, most other vaccines, including dTpa, RSV, pneumococcal and COVID-19 vaccines. For more information, refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook influenza chapter.
All COVID-19 vaccines can be administered on the same day as an influenza vaccine. If co-administering influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, consider offering any other vaccinations on a separate visit to reduce the risk of side effects. For more information, refer to the COVID-19 chapter in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
AusVaxSafety, the national vaccine safety system, provides real-time influenza vaccine safety data for seasonal influenza vaccines used in Australia across all ages, including 2025 seasonal influenza vaccine safety data.
The common side-effects of influenza vaccine symptoms include fever, malaise and myalgia. These symptoms are generally mild, short-lived and self-resolving. Serious side effects are extremely rare.
Nasal spray influenza vaccine can cause upper respiratory and nasal symptoms such as a runny nose, nasal congestion or sore throat. Further information about the side effects of the nasal spray influenza vaccine is available on the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS).
Refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook for more information on adverse effects.
